Three people, including two Ngora District officials, have been charged over the alleged theft and mismanagement of road funds meant for district road works.
The suspects are Stanislas Francis Opio, the Acting District Engineer, Samuel Okello, the Assistant Engineering Officer, and Herbert Oroni, the Station Manager of Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd.
They were arraigned before the Ngora Grade One Magistrates Court by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working together with CID and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), on charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud.
Court heard that between 2024 and March 2026, the suspects allegedly conspired to steal fuel worth more than Shs35 million belonging to Ngora District Local Government. The fuel was falsely claimed to be for road works in the district.
Investigations also revealed that Ngora District received Shs1.75 billion in the financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26 for road construction and maintenance, but concerns were raised by residents and stakeholders over poor road works and suspected misuse of funds.
Okello is accused of collecting fuel without signing for it and without approval from the Acting District Engineer, while Oroni allegedly worked with him in the scheme. Opio is accused of failing to properly supervise his junior officer, which allowed the misuse of the fuel.
The three were remanded until May 5, 2026, as investigations continue.
